8 New Restaurants And Cafes To Try In Tokyo This Fall

Stay in the loop with the ever-changing Tokyo food scene

A round-up of some of the best restaurants and cafes that opened in Tokyo over the past couple of months.

Tokyo never stays hungry for new dining spots and over the past few months we’ve witnessed another round of impressive restaurants, bakeries and cafes being added to the capital’s dining scene. From wagyu cutlet and teppan-made sandwiches to daily customized menus cooked with fresh veggies from local farms, and cialda waffles-specialized coffee shop, these new additions to the Tokyo dining scene are bound to keep you warmer and energized as the cool autumn days approach.

California chef Katy Cole has opened Locale in central Meguro, showcasing seasonal produce and seafood. Working directly with local farmers who send her seasonal vegetables, Katy would come up with the menu only after she knows what goodies are in. Purple Hokkaido potatoes with charred eggplant sauce and roasted quail with shiitake farro and celery roots are some of the most recent examples. Craft beer and natural wines are paired with the cuisine. The restaurant posts its menus, which change daily, on its official Instagram account.

The “Ore No” chain, famous for its French and Italian restaurants, opened its second Ore no Bakery & Café in Ginza in early October. The shop specializes in pain de mie, the delicious white bread that is the base to the store’s sandwiches. The 2nd floor seating area is spacious and the menu consists of toast, sandwiches, and soft creams. For something extra delicious, try the popular chicken sandwich with blue cheese, carrots, and purple cabbage — you’ll love it from the first bite!

One of the more curious new sandwich shops is Toast Sandwich Bamboo, which grills its bread on an iron plate (teppan) in an open kitchen. The menu includes deep-fried soft shell crab, teriyaki chicken, roast beef, and sukiyaki. The sukiyaki sandwich is made using domestic beef and includes salty spicy yuzu kosho paste. The chicken sandwich includes purple cabbage, carrots, and lettuce. The presentation is colorful and is hearty enough to become a meal on its own.

Maison Kayser has several stand-up shops and cafes with a full selection of bread and pastries throughout the city. & Coffee Maison Kayser is a new concept with a limited selection of sweets and croissant sandwiches. The sandwich selection includes ham and cheese, and, curiously, also a ratatouille. The café has plenty of seating inside with free wi-fi and some electric sockets. The location is not on the main Chuo Dori, but that is good if you’re looking for a quiet spot away from the shopping crowds.

Coffee Supreme, a chain from Wellington, New Zealand, has just opened its first Japan branch, on the back streets of Shibuya, joining a number of other popular and recently opened coffee houses in the area. Going by its motto, “We eat coffee for breakfast,” this modern coffee spot serves a great selection of fresh brews, lattes and more, using beans from South America and other regions. There’s not a great variety of food, but their toast complements this perfectly, making you think you couldn’t be really asking for more.

The newly opened La Cialda coffee shop in Jiyugaoka specializes in cialda, a traditional Tuscan sweet. The thin wafer-like waffles are made in-house and come in two flavors, plain or cheese, either eaten on their own or sandwiched with different seasonal spreads. The shop also serves up another Italian specialty, chiacchiere, a kind of fried dough dusted with powdered sugar. And, of course, Italian espresso, macchiato, and other coffee drinks. The concept is simple, but the taste is exceptional.

Hisato Hamada of WagyuMafia is the king of wagyu (Japanese beef) in Tokyo, which explains why his main restaurant is for members only. But, we’ve got good news: Recently he has opened WagyuMafia the Cutlet Sandwich, dubbed “the world’s first wagyu cutlet specialized store” that is accessible to everyone who wants to indulge in the marbled beef. The Cutlet Sandwich shop in Nakameguro has seven cuts of beef to choose from, ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥20,000. Yes, you read that correctly.

Henry’s Burger is made from 100% kuroge wagyu. The first shop in Daikanyama is very tiny and, in my opinion, not conducive for chilling out. Now, the second, a much spacious store, has opened in Akihabara near Suehirocho station on the Ginza line. The menu is simple: you have the choice of a single burger with fries and drink (¥1,188) or a double burger paired with the same combo (¥1,566). Hungry diners can add a second or third patty.

Where: 3-7-13 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-kuHours: 11 a.m.–8 p.m

Bonus Spot

My new go-to spot near Tokyo Station is the grand Marunouchi Eataly, an Italian marketplace with cafes, to-go counters and restaurants. The new outpost is large and has several options for takeaway including focaccia, panini, gelato, and much more. There is some casual seating for to-go dishes, and a full restaurant for pasta and pizza baked in ovens.